| Geneva Study Bible {18} If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his {y} own heart, this man's religion is vain. {18} The third admonition: the word of God lays down a rule to not only do well, but also to speak well. (y) The fountain of all babbling, cursed speaking, and impudence is this, that men do not know themselves. People's New Testament 1:26 If any... seemeth to be religious. He who professes religion and yet bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, does not control his tongue is deceived. Unless he has grace enough to rule the unruly member, he has not enough for salvation. Wesley's Notes 1:26 If any one be ever so religious - Exact in the outward offices of religion. And bridleth not his tongue - From backbiting, talebearing, evilspeaking, he only deceiveth his own heart, if he fancies he has any true religion at all. Scofield Reference Notes Margin religious Gr. threskos = outwardly religious. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary 26, 27. An example of doing work. religious . religion-The Greek expresses the external service or exercise of religion, "godliness" being the internal soul of it. "If any man think himself to be (so the Greek) religious, that is, observant of the offices of religion, let him know these consist not so much in outward observances, as in such acts of mercy and humble piety (Mic 6:7, 8) as visiting the fatherless, &c., and keeping one's self unspotted from the world" (Mt 23:23). James does not mean that these offices are the great essentials, or sum total of religion; but that, whereas the law service was merely ceremonial, the very services of the Gospel consist in acts of mercy and holiness, and it has light for its garment, its very robe being righteousness [Trench]. The Greek word is only found in Ac 26:5, "after the straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee." Col 2:18, "worshipping of angels." bridleth not . tongue-Discretion in speech is better than fluency of speech (compare Jas 3:2, 3). Compare Ps 39:1. God alone can enable us to do so. James, in treating of the law, naturally notices this sin. For they who are free from grosser sins, and even bear the outward show of sanctity, will often exalt themselves by detracting others under the pretense of zeal, while their real motive is love of evil-speaking [Calvin]. heart-It and the tongue act and react on one another. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 1:26,27 When men take more pains to seem religious than really to be so, it is a sign their religion is in vain. The not bridling the tongue, readiness to speak of the faults of others, or to lessen their wisdom and piety, are signs of a vain religion. The man who has a slandering tongue, cannot have a truly humble, gracious heart. False religious may be known by their impurity and uncharitableness. True religion teaches us to do every thing as in the presence of God. An unspotted life must go with unfeigned love and charity. Our true religion is equal to the measure in which these things have place in our hearts and conduct. And let us remember, that nothing avails in Christ Jesus, but faith that worketh by love, purifies the heart, subdues carnal lusts, and obeys God's commands. | 
